Lens production method and process

Abstract

A method for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of a lens, where a lens blank is positioned and gripped by a gripping device relying on reference datum indications rendering it possible to obtain topographic orientation for processing both faces of the lens, and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on a face of the lens.

1. A method for processing a lens blank provided with a first surface and a second surface to be processed by a processing equipment for imparting the first and the second surface with required surface topography and obtaining a corresponding first optical face and a second optical face of a lens, said method comprises positioning the lens blank in a gripping device and gripping the lens blank by a gripping device while relying on reference datum indications enabling orientation of the lens blank to obtain the required surface topography of both optical faces of the lens, and wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on the first optical face of the lens. 
   
   
     2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein all reference datum indications are formed on peripheral portions of the lens blank. 
   
   
     3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein optical faces of the lens are not formed with any reference datum indications. 
   
   
     4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference datum indications are preformed on the lens blank. 
   
   
     5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference datum indications are formed on the lens blank during processing of the lens, prior to processing the second optical face thereof. 
   
   
     6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein orientation of the lens during its processing is entirely mechanical. 
   
   
     7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein blocking and gripping the lens blank during its processing are entirely mechanical. 
   
   
     8. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping device is integral with or attachable to the lens processing equipment. 
   
   
     9. A method according to  claim 4 , wherein orientation of the lens blank is achieved by a set of full-spatial reference datum indications provided on the lens blank, indicative of the orientation of the lens blank, wherein said indications are not formed on the first or second optical face of the lens. 
   
   
     10. A method for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of a lens, where the lens blank is positioned and gripped by a gripping device relying on reference datum indications rendering it possible to obtain topographic orientation for processing both faces of the lens, and wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on a face of the lens, wherein the reference datum indications are provided by an adapter assembly wherein the lens blank is received by a first component adapted for engagement with a second component associated with the gripping device; wherein said first component and said second component are formed with corresponding reference datum engagement portions. 
   
   
     11. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Providing a lens blank having a first surface and a second surface to be processed by a processing equipment for imparting the first and the second surface with required surface topography and obtaining a corresponding first optical face and a second optical face of a lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens processing machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing the first surface of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to the first optical face; and wherein not more than one of the reference datum indications extends on the first optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Turning over the lens blank and gripping it while relying on said reference datum indications; and 
 (e) Processing the second optical face of the lens. 
 
   
   
     12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein before step (d) the surface of the first optical face is finished. 
   
   
     13. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens processing machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing a first optical face of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to said first optical face; and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on the optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Turning over the lens blank and gripping it while relying on said reference datum indications; and 
 (e) Processing a second optical face of the lens; 
 wherein before step (d), a removable structural support material is applied into a cavity formed adjacent the first optical face, to thereby facilitate processing the second optical lens face. 
 
   
   
     14. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the surface of the first optical face is coated with a protective material prior to applying the structural support material. 
   
   
     15. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens processing machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing a first optical face of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to said first optical face; and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on the optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Turning over the lens blank and gripping it while relying on said reference datum indications; and 
 (e) Processing a second optical face of the lens; 
 wherein before step (c), the first surface of the lens is formed with an anchoring arrangement to increase attachment of the structural support material to the lens blank. 
 
   
   
     16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the anchoring arrangement is a peripheral recess. 
   
   
     17. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Providing a lens blank having a first surface and a second surface to be processed by a processing equipment for imparting the first and the second surface with required surface topography and obtaining a corresponding first optical face and a second optical face of a lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing the first optical face of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to the first optical face; and wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on the first optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Blocking the first optical face of the lens to a blocking chuck, where reference datum indications of the blocking chuck are in register with the reference datum indications of the lens blank; 
 (e) Gripping the blocking chuck by the gripping device; and 
 (f) Processing the second optical face of the lens. 
 
   
   
     18. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein after step (c) the first optical face of the lens is finished. 
   
   
     19. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the blocking chuck is a mobile device pre-formed with full-spatial mechanical true-position reference datum indications. 
   
   
     20. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the blocking chuck is formed with full-spatial mechanical datum indications and one optical true-position reference datum indication. 
   
   
     21. A method according to  claim 20 , wherein orientation of the blocking chuck with reference to the lens blank is based on a combination of mechanical and optical reference datum indications. 
   
   
     22. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein one or both of the first optical face and the second optical face are finished at a later step. 
   
   
     23. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing a first optical face of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to said first optical face; and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on the first optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Blocking the first optical face of the lens to a blocking chuck, where reference datum indications of the blocking chuck are in register with the reference datum indications of the lens 
 (e) Gripping the blocking chuck by the gripping device; and 
 (f) Processing a second optical face of the lens. 
 wherein after step (c) a removable structural support material is applied into a cavity formed adjacent said first optical face, to thereby facilitate processing the second optical face. 
 
   
   
     24. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank pre-formed with reference datum indications providing full-spatial reference datum indications sufficient for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of the lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus and processing the first optical face of the lens relying on said reference datum indications; wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on an optical surface of the lens; 
 (c) Turning over the lens blank and gripping it while relying on said reference datum indications; and 
 (d) Processing the second optical face of the lens. 
 
   
   
     25. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank pre-formed with reference datum indication providing full-spatial reference datum indications sufficient for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of the lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus and processing the first optical face of the lens relying on said reference datum indications; wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on an optical surface of the lens 
 (c) Blocking the first optical face of the lens to a blocking chuck, where reference datum indications of the blocking chuck are in register with the reference datum indications of the lens blank; 
 (d) Gripping the blocking chuck by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus; and 
 (e) Processing the second optical face of the lens. 
 
   
   
     26. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production machine; 
 (c) Processing the lens blank to obtain full-spatial reference datum indications and processing a first optical face of the lens whereby said reference datum indications define the coordinates of the lens with respect to said first optical face; and wherein not more then one reference datum indication extends on the first optical face of the lens; 
 (d) Blocking the first optical face of the lens to a blocking chuck, where reference datum indications of the blocking chuck are in register with the reference datum indications of the lens blank; 
 (e) Gripping the blocking chuck by the gripping device; and 
 (f) Processing a second optical face of the lens, 
 wherein before step (d), a removable structural support material is applied into a cavity formed adjoining said first optical face, to thereby facilitate processing the second lens face. 
 
   
   
     27. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank pre-formed with reference datum indications providing full-spatial reference datum indications sufficient for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of the lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus and processing the first optical face of the lens relying on said reference datum indications; wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on an optical surface of the lens; 
 (c) Turning over the lens blank and gripping it while relying on said reference datum indications; and 
 (d) Processing the second optical face of the lens, 
 wherein before step (d), a removable structural support material is applied into a cavity formed adjoining said first optical face, to thereby facilitate processing the second lens face. 
 
   
   
     28. A method for processing optical faces of a lens, comprising the following steps:
 (a) Obtaining a lens blank pre-formed with reference datum indication providing full-spatial reference datum indications sufficient for processing a first optical face and a second optical face of the lens; 
 (b) Gripping the lens blank by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus and processing the first optical face of the lens relying on said reference datum indications; wherein not more than one reference datum indication extends on an optical surface of the lens 
 (c) Blocking the first optical face of the lens to a blocking chuck, where reference datum indications of the blocking chuck are in register with the reference datum indications of the lens blank; 
 (d) Gripping the blocking chuck by a gripping device for use in conjunction with a lens production apparatus; and 
 (e) Processing the second optical face of the lens; 
 wherein before step (d), a removable structural support material is applied into a cavity formed adjoining said first optical face, to thereby facilitate processing the second lens face.